Susannah Brasseur/Brashier

Susannah Brasseur was the second (possibly third, if he had an unknown wife in France) wife of Mareen Duvall the Emigrant, and the mother of several of his children, including Mareen Duvall the Younger, the ancestor of Ellis Duvall and his children J. Forest Duvall and Wilma Gladys Duvall Whittlesey.  Susannah is believed to have been born in Nansemond County, Virginia about 1650.  Susannah was the daughter of Benjamin (Benois) Brasseur who was believed to have been married to Mary Richford.  Susannah died in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 1692 when her son, Mareen Duvall the Younger, was only 12 years old.

Susannah moved with her family to Calvert County, Maryland in about 1658; she was about 8 years old.  She was naturalized, along with her parents and siblings, in Virginia 4 December 1662 by Lord Charles Calvert.  She and Mareen Duvall the Emigrant married about 1674 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.   Little is known about Susannah other than through information about her husband.  It is speculated that she died in childbirth and that she did not leave a will.

It should be noted that the name "Brasseur" has been spelled many different ways, including:  Brashier, Brashear, Brassures, Brassieurs, etc..  "Brashear" evolved to be the most common spelling.

Credit needs to be given to Charles Brashear and Shirley Brashear McCoy who have researched and written the most comprehensive series of books on the Brashear family.  I have relied heavily on Brashear and McCoy,  A Brashear(s) Family History, Vol. 1, The First 200 Years of Brashear(s) in America and Some Descendants in Maryland, 31 August 1998.  For more information and to order a copy of the book, go to http://www.charlesbrashear.com/Family_Histories/Genealogies.htm

Mareen Duvall the Emigrant

Mareen Duvall the Emigrant (probably originally spelled "Marin Duval") was most likely born in Laval, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France about 1625.  To date, this has not been verified, but it is a reasonable presumption inasmuch as he named the first track of land patented to him by Lord Baltimore in 1659 "Laval".  We do know that he was born in France, was brought over to the New World as an indentured servant, probably after having migrated to England, by William Burgess and was indentured to John Covell.  Mareen married Susannah Brasseur, daughter of Benjamin Brasseur and Mary Richford in about 1679 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Susannah was his second wife; the name of his first wife is unknown, but it is known they had at least five children, John, Mareen the Elder, Lewis, Samuel and Eleanor .  It is believed that Mareen and Susannah had seven children, Susannah, Mareen the Younger, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth, Johanna, and Benjamin.  When his wife Susannah died about 1692 Mareen married Mary Stanton.  Mareen and Mary had no children, and Mareen died a short time after their marriage, on August 5, 1694, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Mareen died a wealthy man, having accumulated several thousand acres of land. 

We are fortunate to have a copy of Mareen's will from the Maryland Calendar of Wills, Volume II:
Duvall, Mareen,A. A. Co.,2nd Aug., 1694; 13th Aug., 1694. To wife Mary, extx., part of 600 A., “ Middle Plantation ” during life, and she is not to be molested by any of testator's children. To son Lewis and hrs., 300 A., part of “ Middle Plantation, ” on which eld. son Mareen now lives; also to inherit wife Mary's portion at her decease. To dau. Eliza: and hrs., 375 A., “ Bowdell's Choice ” in Calvert Co. To son Benjamin and hrs., 200 A., part of 400 A., “ Howerton's Range ” in Calvert Co. To dau. Catherine and hrs., residue of “ Hoertons' Range. ” To son Mareen, the younger, son of late wife Susannah, and hrs., 300 A., “ The Plains ” in Calvort Co. To dau. Mary and hrs., 320 A., “ Marley's Grove, ” and 300 A., “ Marley's Lot, ” A. A. Co. To young. dau. Johanna, 311 A., “ Larkin's Choice, ” and 200 A., “ Duvall's Range. ” To son John, 5 shillings. To dau. Eliza:, wife of John Roberts, and to son Samuel, personalty. Sons John and Lewis and son-in-law Robert Tyler to assist wife in executorship. Sons to be of age at 18 yrs. and daus at 16 yrs. Test: Wm. Roper, Wm. Goodman, Rich'd Cheser, Jervis Morgan, Clement Davis. 2. 327."